Meggie Gallo leads Southampton to Long Island Class C title

Southampton's Caroline Ricca, right, congratulates Meggie Gallo after scoring her second goal of the game in the second half of the varsity field hockey Class C championship against Friends Academy at Adelphi University. (Nov. 13, 2012) Photo Credit: James Escher

Fitting, since for some time Southampton has been one of field hockey's bridesmaids -- once a bride, but since divorced, having suffered several postseason heartbreaks recently.

Well, flip that bouquet.

Meggie Gallo scored both goals, including the winner with 14:08 left, as Southampton beat defending champion Friends Academy, 2-1, Tuesday in the Long Island Class C final and captured its first title since 2003.

The Mariners will face Barker in the state semifinals Saturday at Cicero-North Syracuse.

"It feels so good, so good," said Gallo, who took a sweep cross from Emily Wesnofske about 4 yards left of the cage and tapped it in for the go-ahead score.

Southampton (10-8) dominated the first half -- 12 penalty corners -- and took a lead on Gallo's goal 9:13 in. Keeling Pilaro fired a liner from the top of the arc and Gallo, camped in front of the goal, deflected it in.

But the Quakers were resilient and tied it on Alexa Landow's goal 43 seconds before halftime. Charlotte Gelfand made nine saves for Friends (10-5).

"I've been on this team for five years and this is what we've waited for," Wesnofske said. "This is once in a lifetime."

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